Pail-top.



K. N. OATHER.

PAIL TOP.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 4, 1913.

Patented Sept. 15,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 11 zjs'ses /HE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D. L

K. N. GATHER.

PAIL TOP.

APPLICATION FILED NOVA, 1913.

1,1 10,892, Patented Sept. 15,1914.,

74 masses 0777ZZ'67Z/0/J j Jug/72012. Camel? THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTO-LITHQ, W/QSHINGTON. L7. C.

Cir

TJNTTED @TATEEd KINGMAN N. CATHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOI$, ASSIGNOR 0F GNE-HALF T0 CORNELIUS J. DIRCKX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PAIL=TOR Lllilhg To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KINGMAN N. CATHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pail-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a cover or top, adapted for use upon pails of various sizes and styles, whereby the pail is rendered adaptable for use as a minnow bucket.

The objects of the present invention are: To provide a top of the class described, which is of a nature adapted to be transported from place to place without inconvenience; to so construct the top as to enable it to be used. with any sort of a pail or container; to form the major portion of the device from a flexible material, whereby it may be rolled or folded into a compact package; to provide the top with a bag or retaining member of flexible material; to provide means for raising the bag portion of the device out of the water to enable the user to readily procure any particular minnow that he may desire; to provide suitable weights for the bucket or bag portion to insure its becoming submerged in the water; to provide means for firmly and securely holding the top in place, whereby the pail may be placed in the lake or stream if desired, and to insure against the door in the top opening up when so placed; to surround the hole or opening formed in the top with a metallic frame, thereby stiffening the open ing and also forming a means for mounting the covering or door in position; to place a series of holes in said top at different distances from the center, whereby the top may be secured to any and all sizes of pails with which it could be suitably used, and to utilize the holes as air openings;

The invention further consists in the features ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view of the top of the present invention in operative position upon a water container or pail; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 1, and showing the door of the top in raised position, and illustrating how the bag or container portion of the device is raised out of the water; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the form of top illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 4, 1913.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914. Serial No. 799,124.

modified form of top; Fig. 5 is a cross section through the form shown in Fig. l as applied to a small sized part; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a second modified form of top; and Fig. 7 is a cross section through the form shown in Fig. 6.

In the art to which the present invention relates, the form of minnow bucket now used, so far as I am aware, is in the nature of a metallic outer pail of impervious construction, which is intended to contain the water, and an inner compartment also formed of metal, which is of a perforated or foraminous construction, and is designed to contain the fish. This form of device, however, is subjected to very serious criticism of bulk. That is, it is cumbersome and undesirable to transport from place to place, and frequently, rather than carry the contrivance back and forth, the user will abandon the device and buy a new one next sea son, thereby making their use costly. The present invention is intended primarily to overcome this salient defect in the prior constructions, and to produce a simple de vice, small of bulk and easily carried, which may be employed with any form of pail to enable the pail to be used as a minnow bucket, thus eliminating the transporting from place to place of the present bulky device now used for that purpose.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the device as there shown consists of a bag portion 8 preferably formed of an open weave fibrous material, flexible in nature, whereby it may be wrapped into a small space. As shown in Fig. 1, this bag portion, when in use, extends downward in the form of a bag or sack, and this portion of the device, when used, confines the bait for a purpose hereinafter explained. This body or bag portion is attached to what may be termed an upper portion or top 9, which forms the gist of the present invention. This top consists of a horizontally extending section 10 and a vertically extending section 11 in the form of a skirt. The maj or portion of this top 9 is preferably constructed of canvas or some other flexible material, and the horizcntal section of the top is formed with an opening 12, which opening is surrounded by a metal frame 13, which, in the form shown Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is triangular in nature. This particular formation is desirable because of the ability to construct the same of small scraps of material. Secured to this metal frame by ahinge 14- or otherwise is a cover 15 for the opening 12, which cover consists of an outer metal frame 16 inclosing a screen or a foraminous portion 17, and this cover, in the construction shown, is held'in closed position through the instrumentalities of a catch member 18 secured to the metal frame-work 18. The skirt or depending portion 11 of the top section 9 is, as stated, made of some sort of flexible material, and in the construction shown it is provided with suitable drawstrings 19 by the manipulation of which the skirt can be drawn tightly against the upper portion of the pail. The device, when in operative position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is attached to a bucket 20 which can be of any suitable size and construction.

One of the main features of the present invent-ion is its adaptability to be attached and used with almost any form and size of bucket, because the skirt 11 can accommodate itself to any size required, and can be fitted and placed upon every size and form of bucket which could be practically used as a minnow bucket. Therefore, the user does not have to carry from place to place a large and cumbersome bucket of a special design and size, but need simply carry the top of the present invention, and when he reaches his destination, he can use this top upon any sort of bucket that may be available.

The method of attaching the top to the bucket is obvious from the foregoing descriptions and from a study of the drawings. The horizontal portion is placed on top of the pail and the skirt upon the outer upper edge, and the draw-strings are pulled or adjusted so as to pull the skirt tightly about the upper portion of the bucket, and thus the top is maintained in the proper position thereupon.

In using minnow buckets, the user will frequently desire to obtain a particular minnow of the number in the bucket, and heretofore it has been a matter of difficulty to select a particular minnow from the mass, and in the selecting operation injury frequently results to some of the other minnows by reason of rough handling. In the present invention, I make use of the bag portion 8 of the device to eliminate this difiiculty, and, in fact, it is in this connection that the value of the bag portion of the invention lies. I supply a cord 21 which is attached to the bottom of the bag portion 8, and this cord may, if desired, be attached to the cover 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If this method is employed, then whenever the cover 15 is raised the bottom of the bag will be drawn upward toward the opening 12, as shown in Fig. 2, raising the major part of the bag out of the water and bringing the minnows close to the opening 12,

whereby the extraction of any particular minnow is rendered easy and without any rough handling which would in any way injure any one of the mass of minnows. A

weight 22 is shown as attached to the bottom portion of the bag or container portion 7 8 for the purpose of submerging the bag in the water.

It is understood that the bag attachment is placed on the top merely for the purpose of expediting the removal of the minnows from the pail, but so far as transforming the ordinary pail into a minnow bucket is concerned, the top section, which is the gist of the present invention, is sufficient by it self for this purpose, and when applied to the upper portion of the pail will convert the pail into a practical minnow or fish bucket. This top section, as stated, consists of horizontal section 10 and a vertical section 11 depending therefrom, this latter section being" in the form of a skirt. The horizontal and vertical sections are formed of a single piece of suitable flexible'material, as, for instance, canvas. The skirt portion is divided at two points oppositely disposed to one another, and openings 23 are formed at these points of division. These openings are arranged to aline with the bail of the bucket, and so enable the top to be attached to the pail without eliminating an y'of the usefulness of the bail.

Adjacent to the free ends of the skirt section are eyelets 2-f of suitable construction, which eyelets receive lacing cords 19 for the purpose of drawing the skirt tightly around the upper. end of the pail when the top is attached thereto. The horizontal portion of thetop is provided with a series of eyelets 26 which serve as air openings to admit air into the interior of the pail, and also serve, as shown in Fig. 5, as lacing eyelets when the top is applied to a pail having a rim of small diameter. It will be readily understood, by referring to Fig. 5, how these eyelets 26 are thus utilized. A portion of the horizontal section is folded down over the top of the bucket to place it in a vertical plane, and the eyelets 26 are used for the purpose of receiving the lacing cord, so that,

with a plurality or sets of eyelets as are thus provided, it enables the device to be attached to a large variety of sizes of pails, and suflicient latitude is allowed-to enable the top to be attached to any form of bucket which would be practical for the purpose of carrying minnows.

In order to allow the top to accommodate itself to buckets of various sizes, I place one or more V-shaped notches 27 in the horizon- V tal portion and in alinement with the opening 23 in the depending skirt and into such V-shaped notch or notches is inserted a gusset 28 of suitable fabric, thereby giving to the horizontal portion a consideration latitude in allowing it to adjust itself to the pail top. These gussets are alined with the openings 23 and will come opposite the bails when the top is attached, and will, therefore, allow of the securing of the top into position without any undue wrinkling by reason of the presence of the bail. The foregoing description has been confined to the form of device in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5.

Referring now to Fig. 4c, the form therein shown is in all respects similar to the form heretofore described, save that a door 29 for closing the opening in the horizontal portion of the top is shown, which is intended to swing about a pivot 30, as shown by the dotted lines, and a hinge clasp 31 is employed, which, in combination with an eye 32, forms the means'for holding the door in place.

The form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is in all respects similar to that described in connection with the description of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, except that a square door is employed mounted upon hinges 34, and the metal frame about the opening in the horizontal portion of the top is made from a wire 35 bent into the form of a square frame, and, as shown, is surrounded by the fabric. In all these figures, a cord 36 may be employed, which, when passed through the eyelet or catch member 18, serves to hold the door'in closed position. It will be readily understood that, with the top of the present invention applied in the manner described to a pail, the said pail is then converted into a minnow bucket, and can be placed into the lake or stream, as is customary with ordinary minnow buckets, without any danger of the fish escaping, and will serve every purpose and function of the minnow bucket now used, but will entirely eliminate the objectionable feature of bulk which is present in ordinary and well known types of minnow bucket. The top can be readily and easily transported from place to place, being adapted to be folded into a compact parcel, and the top can be used with every style and size of bucket which would be practical for the purpose of carrying minnows.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a depending body portion of flexible foraminous material and a top section secured thereto, said top section consisting of a horizontal portion and a skirt of flexible material vertically depending therefrom, said horizontal portion having an opening, a cover for said opening, and means for drawing the depending skirt to a desired size, substantially as described.

2. A. device of the class described, comprising a depending bag-like portion of open-weave fabric and a top section secured thereto, said top section consisting of a horizontal portion and a skirt of flexible material vertically depending therefrom, said horizontal portion having an opening therein, a metal frame about the opening a cover for said opening, having a fabric body, a metal frame for said body, and means for drawing the depending skirt to a desired size, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a depending bag-like portion of open-weave fabric and a top section secured thereto, said top section consisting of a horizontal portion and a skirt of flexible 8O material vertically depending therefrom, said horizontal portion having an opening therein, a cover for said opening, means for drawing the depending skirt to a desired size, and means for drawing the bottom of the bag-like portion toward said opening, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a depending bag-like portion of open-weave fabric and a top section. secured thereto, said top section consisting of a hori zontal portion and a skirt of flexible material vertically depending therefrom, said horizontal portion having an opening therein, a cover for said opening, means for drawing the depending skirt to desired size, and means for drawing the bottom of the bag-like portion toward said opening when said cover is lifted, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a depending bag-like portion of open-weave fabric and a top section secured thereto, said top section consisting of a horizontal portion and a skirt of flexible material vertically depending therefrom, said horizontal portion having an opening therein, a cover for said opening, a cord connected to said cover and the bottom of the bag-like section, whereby, when the cover is lifted, the bottom of the bag-like portion is pulled upwardly toward said opening, substantially as described.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a depending bag-like portion of 115 open-weave material, a weight on the bottom of said bag, a top section secured to said bag, said top section consisting of a horizontal portion and a skirt of flexible material vertically depending therefrom, said hori- 120 zontal portion having an opening therein, a cover for said opening, and means for drawing the depending skirt to a desired size, substantially as described.

7. A device of the class described, com- 125 prising a depending bag-like portion of open-weave fabric and a top section secured thereto, said top section consisting of a horizontal portion and a skirt of flexible mate rial vertically depending therefrom, said 13 prising a depending bag-like portion of open-weave fabric and a top section of fabic secured thereto, said top section consisting of a horizontal portion formed with a vertically depending skirt, said horizontal section having an opening therein, a metal frame around said. opening, a cover secured to said frame, and means for drawing said skirt portion to a desired size, substantially as described.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a horizontal section provided with an opening, a cover for the opening, a section made of flexible material vertically depending from the horizontal section, and means for drawing the vertical section to a desired size, substantially as described.

10. A device of the class described comprising a horizontal section and a vertical flexible section depending therefrom, said horizontal section having an opening therein, a cover for closing said opening, a series of members adapted to receive draw strings and said members being arranged at different distances from the center of said device,

substantially as described.

. 11. A device of the class described made of flexible'material and comprising a hori zontal section and a vertical section depending therefrom, said horizontal section hav ing an opening therein, a metal frame about said opening, a cover for closing said opening, and means for drawing the vertical section to a desired size, substantially as described.

12. A device of the class described made of flexible material and comprising a horizontal section and a vertical section depending therefrom, a portion of the vertical section being cut away, said horizontal section being formed with a notch alined with the cutaway portion" of the 'verticalsection, a gusset inserted in sald notch, said horizontal section having ;an opening therein, and a cover for closing said opening, and means for drawing the vertical section toa desired size, substantially as described. H s 13. A device of the class described made of flexible material and comprising a horizontal section and a vertical section depending therefrom, eyelets in the verticalsection to receive a draw-string,eyelets in the horizontal section forming ai inlets andalso adapted to serveas draw-string eyelets, said horizontal portion having an opening therein for permitting access to the interior of the pail, and a cover for closing said opening, substantially as described.

14. A device of the class described formed of flexible material and comprising. a horizontal section and a vertical section depending therefrom, said vertical sect-ion being madein two parts with their ends spaced apart, said horizontal section having a notch therein alined with one of said spaces, a

gusset in said notch, eyelets in the vertical section to receive a lacing cord, eyeletsin the horizontal section serving as an: inlets and also adapted to serve asdraw-string eyelets,

said horizontal section having an opening therein, and a cover for closing said open ing, substantially as described.

15. A device of the class described formed of flexible material and comprising. a hori zontal section and a vertical'section depending therefrom, said horizontal section haying an opening therein, a cover for said opening, eyelets in the horizontal section forming air inlets and also adapted to serve as draw-string eyelets, substantially. as described.

KINGMAN N. CATHER.

Witnesses:

VVM. P. Boivn, ConNnLiUs J. DIVCKX.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Ifatents,

Washington, D. G. 

